TIRUCHY: Gone are the days when jallikattu bull owners were stereotyped as 'rough and tough' individuals leading a rustic lifestyle. In today's scenario, bull owners come from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles, with these sturdy bulls being reared in the homes of political leaders, movie celebrities, industrialists, and common people, as they are highly valued in rural households across Tamil Nadu and often treated as more than a family member, with significant respect and affection.
On the occasion of Pongal every year, the people of Tamil Nadu not just celebrate the festival of harvest to thank the Almighty, but give equal importance to the traditional bull-taming sport, jallikattu, which has been a culturally significant and essential part of the Pongal festivities. The sport is very close to their hearts, and they take a lot of pride playing it and training bulls for the event.
The owners from diverse backgrounds are significantly involved in extensive training and care for their bulls, preparing them for the annual festival. The calves that are chosen to become jallikattu bulls are fed a nutritious diet so that they develop into strong, sturdy beasts, and they are given swimming training.
The calves, once they reach adolescence, are taken to small jallikattu events to make them more familiarised with the atmosphere. To build the bulls' ferocity, they are made to plough through a heap of mud or sand with their sharp horns, an integral part of the training to get them battle-ready and to encounter the bull-tamers lying prone on the ground. The more ferocity, the more the prize value.
“In earlier days, the jallikattu bull owners were considered rustic people, and there was an aversion among the people about the jallikattu bulls for their sturdy appearance. But now, the time has changed and almost every household in the villages across the State where agriculture is the major source of income, rear jallikattu bulls," said Jallikattu D Rajesh, the Founder President of Tamilar Veera Vilayattu Kazhagam.
Rajesh stated that, as the jallikattu bulls have become an iconic identity of the Tamil culture and tradition, rearing a bull is seen as a sign of prestige. “With the entire country reverting to the old traditions, the people from Tamil Nadu are fond of renewing the Tamil Culture and tradition. The active participation in traditional games like jallikattu and interest in rearing the bulls have amplified," Rajesh further said.
More interestingly, today's educated youths also exhibit keen interest in rearing jallikattu bulls and training them to be fit for the annual events, considering it as not just a sport but an identity of Tamil culture.
“This is a positive trend indeed, and the people are ready for significant investments in the bulls and the sport to uphold the tradition. They are ready to spend from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to buy bulls, and it is heartening that the people opt only for native breeds. Many VIPs have been rearing these jallikattu bulls like pets," Rajesh said.
Meanwhile, T Ondiraj, the president of Jallikattu Pathukappu Nala Sangam, said that the jallikattu bulls have attained a celebrity status in today's world. “One can never miss a portrait of a jallikattu bull in the banners of every auspicious ceremony displayed across the central region. The jallikattu bulls replace the cinema stars in the digital banner displays for any event," Ondiraj said.
Meanwhile, preparations are under way for the rekla races held in various places every year ahead of Pongal. As part of the training, the bulls are given walking practice and swimming practice daily and are also being fed with nutritious food. In Sekkarakudi near Thoothukudi, bulls taking part in the rekla race are being intensively trained.
Bull owner Manickam said he maintains four bulls and has won several times, and has been preparing his bulls this year, too. He gives his bulls long walking practice every day, two hours of ploughing practice, and swimming practice in a pond every day. Bulls are fed with cottonseed, dates, eggs and other items to keep them strong and fit, he said, adding that on the day before the race, their food is reduced and they are given nutritious juices such as orange and apple to ensure that they run well.